The Gleaner and senior tourism writer awarded in New York

The 180-Year-old Gleaner newspaper and its senior tourism writer, Janet Silvera, shared the spotlight with some of the biggest names in travel and tourism, when they were recognised by the Half Moon A Rock Resort in New York, on Wednesday night.

Silvera, along with the Montego Bay resorts' top-producing wholesalers and travel agents, including Bayside Travel, Valerie Wilson Travel, ProTravel, Classic Vacations, Go Go Worldwide and Destinations, were fêted at the resorts' Travel Partners Award and Dinner at the fabulous Aretsky's Patroon Townhouse in Manhattan.

The Jamaican resort, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, usually brings in the travel professionals and media to its Montego Bay-based Rose Hall property. The hotel's public relations manager, Diandra Shand, said, "We decided to take the awards here to New York, because it also gives us an opportunity to introduce the people in the trade to our new chairman, Guy Stewart III."

Shand noted that the people and the companies honoured were true ambassadors of the hotel.

"For the 60 years that we have existed The Gleaner has been supporting us, and with the birth of its tourism trade publication 10 years ago, that support base has been strengthened," she told the gathering.

Hospitality Jamaica, which is coordinated by Silvera, focuses primarily on the hospitality sector and was the only media house or publication awarded at the event. They were awarded the Top Media Partner in the Caribbean.

Honoured to be selected

In accepting the award, Silvera noted, "We are honoured to have been selected among such a distinguished group," adding that the aim of the publication is to enhance the image of destination Jamaica while showcasing the work of the people - the tourism industry's greatest asset.

Commending the recipients for their consistency, the hotel's new chairman described them as the lifeblood of the property. "We can't tell the story on our own. Nothing sells like word-of-mouth experience," he stated.

The voice of the resort's director of sales, Sharon Logan, who officiated the programme was laced with excitement as she announced the awardees, whom she calls members of the Half Moon family.